4th of July

The police motorcycles led the parade. Lights flashing off their aviator sunglasses, sirens bleeping. Gage couldn't believe his luck. They even high-fived him with their fancy gloves. One by one, all in a row.

Behind the police came the rest of the parade: neighborhood kids on bikes complete with streamers and flags, a marching band, small businesses with small floats, maybe a unicycle or two. And lots of candy thrown to the kids. Mike n' Ikes and Hot Tamales. David couldn't believe his luck.

We went with David's parents and three of his siblings and their families. It was so fun to see everyone. And cousins!! What is better than that?

 My awesome niece Claire and her glow stick. This one is just for you, Claire!

 

After the parade, there were snow cones.

and a game of Red Rover.  Then we BBQed some delicious burgers and watched the kids jump off the diving board at the pool. We missed the fireworks - Dave and I put our jet lagged selves to bed early.

It was a very Happy Indepence Day. 

I am so grateful to be an American. 

There are definitely things in the U.S. that need to be improved. Quite a long list of things. But I feel like I 'get it' a little more each year. Slowly.

I am grateful that I don't have to license my TV with the government. I am grateful I don't have to buy bottled water to drink from and brush my teeth with. I am grateful I can travel wherever I want to. I can own property. I can access websites of my choosing. I can vote. 

I could go on and on. 

This year we saw places with garbage piled in the streets because there is no garbage collection. We saw an entire neighborhood of gorgeous people celebrate that toilets were being built. We saw people without electricity, roads, or schools. Real people. Born to the place they were. Just like you and me.

I don't know that I'm proud to be an American - I didn't really do anything to earn that privilege. But I sure am grateful.